North Carolina Medical Society - NCMS Bulletin

Volume 61 Issue 17 – April 16, 2010

Featured Stories

21% Medicare Rate Cuts Temporarily Delayed

President Obama has signed H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, into law reinstating Medicare physician payments to where they were on March 31 and again postponing the 21.3 percent cut that was supposed to take effect in 2010.

Analysis: Health System Reform Impact on NC Medicaid Program

The NCMS has started preliminary studies of how the health system reforms signed into law last month will impact North Carolina’s Medicaid program. Upon initial review the new legislation will bring over half of the state’s uninsured population in to the Medicaid program, expanding enrollment to approximately 2.4 million individuals by 2014.

NCMS EVP/CEO Shares His View of Medicare on the Radio

On Monday, NCMS EVP, CEO Robert Seligson, talked with Lockwood Phillips, host of the Viewpoints talk radio program that airs on WTKF-WJNC, which serve the Morehead City and Jacksonville areas regarding the Medicare cuts and SGR. Click through to hear the full program.

NCMS Asks DOI to Halt Aetna Mid-Level Rate Cut

In the March 2010 edition of its provider newsletter, the Aetna Insurance Company announced that, effective June 1, it would cut reimbursement rates for covered services provided by mid-levels to 85% of current rates. Read on to see how the NCMS is responding.